One Dead Spy: The Life, Times, and Last Words of Nathan Hale, America’s Most Famous Spy by Nathan Hale

One Dead Spy: The Life, Times, and Last Words of Nathan Hale, America’s Most Famous Spy by Nathan Hale

One Dead Spy: The Life, Times, and Last Words of Nathan Hale, America's Most Famous Spy

by Nathan Hale

The Books for Boys Book Club meeting for this book was held November 17, 2016, at 6:30 in the Community Room.

Book club reading copies were available for checkout from the circulation desk about a month prior to the meeting.

Nathan Hale, the author’s historical namesake, was America’s first spy, a Revolutionary War hero who famously said “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” before being hanged by the British. In the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series, author Nathan Hale channels his namesake to present history’s roughest, toughest, and craziest stories in the graphic novel format.

One Dead Spy tackles the story of Hale himself, who was an officer and spy for the American rebels during the Revolutionary War. Author Hale highlights the unusual, gruesome, and just plain unbelievable truth of historical Nathan Hale—from his early unlucky days at Yale to his later unlucky days as an officer—and America during the Revolutionary War.

book 1 in the Nathan Hale’s Hzardous Tales series

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

The Chocolate Touch

by Patrick Skene Catling

Mother Daughter Book Club meeting for this book was held May 12, 2016.

A Books for Boys meeting for this book was held March 17, 2016.

In a laugh-out-loud hilarious twist on the legend of King Midas, a boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate. Can you ever have too much of your favorite food? John Midas is about to find out….

First published in 1952, The Chocolate Touch was an instant classic—and has remained a timeless favorite with kids, teachers, and parents.

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

The Candy Shop War

by Brandon Mull

Books for Boys meeting for this book was held May 19, 2016.

What if there were a place where you could get magical candy? Moon rocks that made you feel weightless. Jawbreakers that made you unbreakable. Or candy that gave animals temporary human intelligence and communication skills. (Imagine what your pet would say!) Four young friends, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, are befriended by Belinda White, the owner of a new candy shop on Main Street. However, the gray- haired, grandmotherly Mrs. White is not an ordinary candy maker. Her confections have magical side effects. Purposefully, she invites the kids on a special mission to retrieve a hidden talisman under Mt. Diablo Elementary School. However, Mrs. White is not the only magician in town in search of the ancient artifact rumored to be a fountain of youth. She is aware that Mr. Stott, the not- so- ordinary ice cream truck driver, has a few tricks of his own.

book 1 in the Candy Shop War series

Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians

Vivian rated it ★★★ and said, “Along with the many surprising turns in events, nail-biting suspense, and fantastic manifestations of magic, there’s some food for thought and spring-boards for discussion of choices (but not at the expense of story). The children soon find their dream-come-true to be their worst nightmare. At the story’s conclusion there are some loose ends that could be worked into a companion story. I must say, Brandon Mull has an amazing imagination. It was so exciting and ingenious that at times I could barely bring myself to go on, it was so tense. I was critical at first, feeling that the first chapter could have been eliminated, but, pressing forward, I soon found myself caught up in the story. This is a book just waiting to be made into a movie. Hope they do it right.”

Lorna rated it ★★★ and said, “3 1/2 stars. I can see why kids would like it. Very imaginative.”

Miranda rated it ★★★.

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Wolf Brother

by Michelle Paver
Books for Boys meeting for this book was held April 21, 2016.

Six thousand years ago. Evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.

book 1 of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series

Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians

Rebekah rated it ★★★★★.

Super-Sized Slugger by Cal Ripken, Jr.

Super-Sized Slugger by Cal Ripken, Jr.

Super-Sized Slugger

by Cal Ripken, Jr.

Books for Boys meeting for this book was held November 19, 2015.

Cody Parker may be overweight (he prefers the word burly), but he plays third base like a dream. Too bad no one knows it yet, because he’s new to Baltimore, where he’s a target—okay, a big target—for brutal teasing. Even worse, he’s competing for the starting job on the Orioles of the Dulaney Babe Ruth League against budding hoodlum Dante Rizzo, who vows to squeeze Cody’s head like a grape if Cody beats him out. Life gets even more complicated when York Middle School is beset by a rash of mysterious thefts, a crime wave that threatens to sideline Cody—and ruin a golden season for the Orioles. Will Cody ever succeed in getting people to see him for who he really is?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

Mother Daughter Book Club meeting for this book was held April, 14, 2016.

Books for Boys meeting for this book was held February 18, 2016.

The gates of Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory are opening at last—and only five children will be allowed inside.

Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians

Miranda rated it ★★★★★.

Cathy rated it ★★★★★.

Courtney rated it ★★★.

Half Magic by Edward Eager

Half Magic

by Edward Eager

A combined Mother Daughter Book Club and Books for Boys meeting for this book was held January 14, 2016.

Four children find a magical coin that grants each person one wish. There’s just one catch: the wish only comes half true, leaving the wisher in a big pickle. Even the family cat gets her turn, with disastrous results. Magic and mayhem run amok in this wonderful classic tale.

book 1 in the Tales of Magic series

Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians

Vivian rated it ★★★.

Bekka rated it ★★★★★ and said, “Wonderful, wonderful book! One of the all-time classics.”

Miranda rated it ★★★★★.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

A Books for Boys Book Club meeting for this book will be March 8, 2018, at 6:30 in the Community Room. Book club reading copies will be available for checkout from the circulation desk about a month prior to the meeting.

A Mother Daughter Book Club meeting for this book was held March 10, 2016.

Library Book Club meeting for this book was held October 15, 2015.

Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she’s knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she’s a super-nerd and the teacher’s pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda’s world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there’s the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. (“The”) Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.

She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings.

Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians

Cathy rated it ★★★★.

Tamara rated it ★★★★.

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